to open Dorothy’s letter than she had to take her money.’  Mrs Stanbury was very, anxious to read Brooke’s letter, alleging that they would then be able to judge whether it should be handed over to Dorothy.  But Priscilla’s sense of right would not admit of this.  Dorothy must receive the letter from her lover with no further stain from unauthorised eyes than that to which it had been already subjected.  She was called in, therefore, from the kitchen, and the whole packet was given to her.  ’Your aunt has read the enclosure, Dolly; but we have not opened it.’

Dorothy took the packet without a word and sat herself down.  She first read her aunt’s letter very slowly.  ‘I understand perfectly,’ she said, folding it up, almost listlessly, while Brooke’s letter lay still unopened on her lap.  Then she took it up, and held it awhile in both hands, while her mother and Priscilla watched her.  ‘Priscilla,’ she said, ‘do you read it first.’

Priscilla was immediately at her side, kissing her.  ’No, my darling; no,’ she said; ‘it is for you to read it.’  Then Dorothy took the precious contents from the envelope, and opened the folds of the paper.  When she had read a dozen words, her eyes were so suffused with tears, that she could hardly make herself mistress of the contents of the letter; but she knew that it contained renewed assurances of her lover’s love, and assurance on his part that he would take no refusal from her based on any other ground than that of her own indifference to him.  He had written to Miss Stanbury to the same effect; but he had not thought it necessary to explain this to Dorothy; nor did Miss Stanbury in her letter tell them that she had received any communication from him.’shall I read it now?’ said Priscilla, as soon as Dorothy again allowed the letter to fall into her lap.

Both Priscilla and Mrs Stanbury read it, and for awhile they sat with the two letters among them without much speech about them.  Mrs Stanbury was endeavouring to make herself believe that her sister-in-law’s opposition might be overcome, and that then Dorothy might be married.  Priscilla was inquiring of herself whether it would be well that Dorothy should defy her aunt so much, at any rate, and marry the man, even to his deprivation of the old woman’s fortune.  Priscilla had her doubts about this, being very strong in her ideas of self-denial.  That her sister should put up with the bitterest disappointment rather than injure the man she loved was right but then it would also be so extremely right to defy Aunt Stanbury to her teeth!  But Dorothy, in whose character was mixed with her mother’s softness much of the old Stanbury strength, had no doubt in her mind.  It was very sweet to be so loved.  What gratitude did she not owe to a man who was so true to her!  What was she that she should stand in his way?  To lay herself down that she might be crushed in his path was no more than she owed to him.  Mrs Stanbury was the first to speak.